Automatic piano or organ player.



Patented May 20, I902.

E. L. WATSUN.

AUTOMATIC PIANO 0R ORGAN PLAYER.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES ERSKINE Ii. WATSON,

AUTOMATIC PIANO OR ORGAN OF CORNISII, MAINE.

FLA! ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 700,890, dated Iiiay 20, 1902.

Application filed March 1, 1902. Serial N01 96,198v No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERSKINE L. \VATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cornish, in the county of York and State ofMaine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Automatic Piano or Organ Players; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a ppertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to attachments for automatic piano or organ players; and it consists in novel means for preventing the escaping of disagreeable noises, such as the grinding of the cylinders, the scraping of the paper over the mouthpiece, or the escape of air from the back part of the player.

In automatic players as usually constructed the space in which is situated the m usic-roll winding apparatus and the mouthpiece over which the music is drawn is in many instances left uncovered when the instrument is being played. Also in the back part of the instrument, where the automatic fingers strike the keys of the piano or organ, an open space is left, which allows a vent for the air from the bellows which cause to be operated the striking-fingers in the player. Ithas been deemed essential to keep the recess which contains the mouthpiece and rolls open in order that the player may read the signs denoting the tempo at which the music should be played or the signs which indicate the expression. Also it has been necessary to keep this space open in order to allow for the operation of certain stops which regulate the expression and also the tempo. It is the purpose of my invention to obviate this difficulty.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automatic player, showing my improved devices in position, the dotted lines showing the transparent cover raised, so as to allow the operator to insert a roll of music, duo. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of a player, showing my device in position. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the player-cover. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the removablyattaehable apron.

Same letters of reference refer to like parts or remove a roll of music.

in all the figures.

In said drawings, A represents a suitable casing having a recess 13, in which is mounted the music-roll C, winding-roll D, and the mouthpiece E. F is the transposing-stop, and G stops for regulating the expression. Said casing is also provided with the ordinary cover H, which can be closed down over the recess when the instrument is not in use.

Also mounted in said recess in such a manner as not to interfere with the closing of the regular cover of theinstrumentis a supplemental transparent cover I, held in position by pins .I or some other suitable retaining devices. The pins or retaining devices are so arranged as to allow the cover to be lifted or slid and held back when the operator wishes to insert The cover is provided with an opening near the top, which is adapted to be placed over the transposingkey. Said opening is provided with a sliding cover K, adapted to be closed when the instrument is in use and to be opened only when the mouthpiece is to be moved laterally. The front wall L of said cover is provided with a recess M, said recess being provided with a back wall N to allow the keys regulating the expression or other working of the instrument to be reached by the operator without lifting the cover and at the same time to prevent the escape of any of the annoying noises. Attached to the rear of the instrument and beyond and over the striking-fingers is a re movably-attachable apron consisting of a ledge O and a vertical wall P, said vertical wall extending downwardly below the ledge, as seen at Q. Said wall is also provided with springs It of a suitable tension, which are adapted to be sprung against the back wall R of the instrument and hold the apron in position. Said apron is constructed of felt or other suitable absorbent material and may 'be provided with a back S of any suitable material.

It has been found by actual experience that when the automatic player is operated unless the front portion is closed a very disagree able noise resulting from the putting of the bellows and the scraping of the music-sheet over the mouthpiece and over the rolls is noticeable; also, that a pulling noise comes from the rear of the instrument, also caused by the escape of air from the bellows. It has also been found that if the front portion of the instrument is closed the puffing noise from the rear of the instrument becomes more prominent and annoying, while if the' openings both in front and in the wall at the rear of the instrument are closed the noise is entirely concealed, the latter being caused especially by the fact that the current of escaping air strikes against the wall above the ledge and is directed back into the instrument, and consequently does not reach the ear of the player or audience.

It is absolutely necessary that both the opening in the front and the space at the rear be closed, for unless they are the annoying puffing noise cannot be obviated or remedied.

Having thus described my invention and its use, I claim 1. In an automatic player, a transparent sliding cover provided with an opening in the top and a recess in the front wall, said cover adapted to cover the working mechanism of the instrument and a removably-attachable apron adapted to fit on the rear wall of the player and rest upon the keys of the instrument to be played.

2. In an automatic player, a transparent cover, an opening in the top and a recess in the front wall near the bottom thereof, said cover adapted to cover the rolls and mouthpiece of the instrument and a removably-attac'nable apron consisting of a vertical wall, a horizontal ledge and a clamping device for holding the same on the back of the player.

In an automatic player, a suitable casing having a cover attached thereto, a supplemental transparent cover with a recess in the front wall near the bottom thereof and means for holding said supplemental cover in place, an apron removably attached to the rear wall of the player, said apron consisting of a vertical wall, a horizontal shelf angularly disposed to said wall and situated near the bottom thereof and spring-clamps for holding said vertical wall against the rear wall of the player.

4. In an automatic player, a suitable casing having an opening therein, a cover attached to said casing and adapted to cover said opening, a supplemental transparent cover removably attached to said casing and beneath said cover, said supplemental cover being provided with a recess in the front wall at or near the bottom, means for allowing said supplemental cover to be opened and to hold the same in place, a removably-attach able depending apron consisting of a vertical Wall, a horizontal shelf angularly disposed thereto and situated near the bottom thereof and a clamping device on said vertical wall for holding it to the wall. of a player.

5. In an automatic player, a suitable cas ing having an opening therein, a cover over said opening, a supplemental transparent cover removably attached to said casing and beneath said cover, said supplemental cover being provided with a recess in the front wall at or near the bottom, a removably-attaehable depending apron consisting of a vertical wall, a horizontal shelf angularlydisposed thereto and situated near the bottom thereof, clamping devices on said vertical wall adapted to hold said apron in position and allowthe keys of an instrument to be played without interfering with the action thereof.

In testimony whereof I a'l'lix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 24th day of February, 1902.

ERSKINE L. IVATSON.

In presence of- WM. 1%.. Corr, Lnwis B. KNIGHT. 

